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# Demarcus Lawrence Signing Proving to Be Shrewd Move for Seahawks
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/demarcus-lawrence-seattle-seahawks-signing-shrewd-move/
- Published: 2025-11-18T20:34:42.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T05:48:08.000Z
- Author: Nick Lee
- Tags: Analysis, Seahawks, Demarcus Lawrence

The Seattle Seahawks front office, namely general manager John Schneider, has made his share of shrewd, smart moves in his career. Drafting the likes of Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Tyler Lockett outside of the first round are admirable. Acquiring players such as Marshawn Lynch, Geno Smith, and Duane Brown as veterans who provided boosts for this franchise, is also a feather in the cap.

Seattle also has made several moves under the radar that paid off. Unheralded acquisitions like Doug Baldwin, Jarran Reed, Quandre Diggs, and the like have earned Schneider and Seattle respect around the league. 

It’s hard to describe a four-time Pro Bowler signing a free agent deal with a new team as flying under the radar, but that’s what it felt like when former Cowboys defensive end Demarcus “Tank” Lawrence inked a deal with Seattle in free agency. Maybe it’s another symptom of the national media disregarding the Seahawks be it for geographical or other reasons. 

Lawrence signed a three-year, $42 million contract this past March. That reunited him with Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, who coached the defensive line in Dallas from 2021 to 2023.

Lawrence brings a wealth of experience. For a Seahawks defense that seems to be mixing youth with vets to the most productive level, he’s a strong locker room presence. This are plenty of “pelts on the wall” as it were. The four-time Pro Bowler has 65.5 career sacks. He ranks 10th all-time in the historic Cowboys franchise in sacks. He has three seasons of at least eight sacks in his career, including 14.5 sacks in 2017\. 

Let’s be clear- he’s not that guy anymore. Lawrence won’t be flirting with a dozen sacks and be among the league leaders anymore. However, he is a more well-rounded player. Even if he’s not getting 12-plus sacks anymore, he’s still effective against the run. That helps free up other rushers or stabilize the defensive line on early downs. Among the 101 qualified defensive ends in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, Lawrence ranks 18th in run defense grade and 11th in run stop rate. 

Of course, the most outward-facing accomplishment of Lawrence’s brief career in Seattle so far is completing not one, but two fumbles returned for touchdowns after Tyrice Knight strip sacks against the Cardinals. Overall this season, he has 27 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks in a Seahawks uniform. He ranks second on the team in tackles for loss and fourth in sacks. 

Given the Seahawks got him for a very fair price, as the 34th-highest paid edge rusher on an annual basis, he has been an absolute bargain. Lawrence should be considered a top 20 defensive end in the NFL this season. He has been essentially the perfect “win now” piece the Seahawks needed on defense this winter.

Lawrence likely is not in the long-term plans of this franchise. And he doesn’t need to be. But for this run through the NFC and hopefully the playoffs, he offers the perfect combination of veteran leadership along with enough juice left in the “Tank.”